Ryan McElligott

1.55 MARTINSTOWN OPPORTUNITY (C&G) MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

Summerhill Lewis is a hopeful choice. He has run to a respectable level on his four starts to date and ran his best race at Cork last month when he went down by half a length to Walkabout in a maiden over this trip.

He shouldn’t have any trouble with the ground and he is marginally preferred to Conna Cross whose debut third to the very useful Ball D’Arc in a maiden at this track on heavy ground in December is one of the stronger pieces of form on offer. He possibly hasn’t matched that form on his next starts but still looks to be lining up with a leading chance.

Selection: SUMMERHIL LEWIS

Next Best: Conna Cross

2.25 BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.LIMERICKRACES.IE HANDICAP HURDLE 2M

In quite an interesting handicap Velocity Boy is put forward. On his first start of the season he finished an encouraging second to Lilshane in a Navan handicap hurdle last month and last weekend he was a respectable fifth to Last Goodbye. He is better than he got to show at Cork and, significantly, he is returning to a track where his two outings on testing ground have yielded a pair of victories.

Noble Emperor is a fascinating runner off top weight as he looks to build on a second to Toon River in a valuable 2m 2f handicap chase at Gowran where his jumping cost him dearly. This drop back in trip doesn’t look ideal but the conditions will put an emphasis on stamina. Last year’s winner Cliff house has been running better than his last couple of placings suggest while Blacklough was a very useful handicapper a couple of seasons ago.

Selection: VELOCITY BOY

Next Best: Cliff House

3.00 FAMILY FUN DAY SUNDAY 8th MAY RATED NOVICE HURDLE 2M 4F

A Great View has enjoyed a good first season. He won his maiden here in November and then followed up at Punchestown before running a very creditable one and a quarter length third to Total Recall in a decent 2m 3f handicap hurdle at Naas last month. A repeat of that last run could make him hard to beat.

All Souls is getting a very useful weight for age allowance and he coped well with the testing ground when making a winning debut over timber at Navan in February. He might emerged as the biggest threat to A Great View.

Selection: A GREAT VIEW

Next Best: All Souls

3.35 FOLLOW LIMERICK RACECOURSE ON FACEBOOK MARES HURDLE 2M 3F

Following an honourable run at Cheltenham where she was beaten 12 lengths into sixth by Limini, Water Sprite looks the one to side with. This filly would probably appreciate better ground than she will get here but she did cope with heavy ground when winning her maiden at Clonmel two months ago.

She is preferred to Marygale Bridge who was well held in a useful mares race here last month. Prior to that Marygale Bridge won her maiden over 2m 2f at this track and that is a much more accurate reflection of her abilities as a couple of her runs this term would indicate that she isn’t as effective over longer trips.

Selection: WATER SPRITE

Next Best: Marygale Bridge

4.10 HUGH MCMAHON MEMORIAL NOVICE CHASE (GRADE 2) 3M

Avant Tout has winning form at this distance and he ran a nice race on testing ground at this track in December when going down by one and a half lengths to stablemate Outlander. That is strong form in the context of this race and it is also worth noting that the six-year-old comes here off a fine run in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. He had to settle for ninth there but came home really well in the closing stages to be beaten just over four and a half lengths by Diamond King.

Avant Tout looks too strong for Lord Scoundrel who has won four times over fences this season, including when landing a useful Thurles conditions chase last time. The form of his previous third to Bridgets Pet is also rather strong with the first two home in that race but running well at Cheltenham. Lord Scoundrel does have to prove his stamina at this trip.

Selection: AVANT TOUT

Next Best: Lord Scoundrel

4.45 LIAM HOGAN HANDICAP CHASE 2M 1F

He won this race off a rating of 123 in 2014 while he was second in it last year off a 2lbs lower mark than the one he competes off here so Page Turner is taken to enhance his fine record at this track. Already a four timer winner at Limerick, the top weight ran way below his best last time but prior to that he won a 2m 1f handicap at Gowran and a visit to his favourite track should enable him to return to form. He is chosen ahead of The Conker Club who is receiving 28lbs from the top weight.

The Conker Club has been running creditably in defeat with her last effort a three and a quarter length second to Rebel Cry at Thurles last week.

Selection: PAGE TURNER

Next Best: The Conker Club

5.20 KEVIN MCMANUS BOOKMAKER CHAMPION (PRO/AM) FLAT RACE (LISTED) 2M

Without Limites can make it two wins from three starts. He followed up an encouraging debut second to Aspen Colorado with a dominant 12 length triumph in a three runner event Punchestown in February. He looks smart and should be able to improve further while he has already shown that testing ground is no problem for him. Chalonnial is an intriguing English raider. He looked a nice type when he made a winning debut in a Wincanton bumper two months ago and that success was achieved on heavy ground. It is hard to be definitive about the quality of that Wincanton form but he is still a significant rival for the selection.

Selection: WITHOUT LIMITES

Next Best: Chalonnial